Staple-driving machine



Sept. 22, 1925.

J. MUTH STAPLE muvnw MACHINE Filed larch 24, 1931 Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT? ()FFICE.

JOHN MUTH, F NORWALK, CONNECTICUT. ASSIGNOR TO THE E. H. HOTCHKISS COM- PANY, OF NORl/VALK, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

STAPLE-DRIVING MACHINE.

Application filed March 24, 1921. Serial No. 455,122.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN MUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Non.

walk, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Staple-Driving Machines, of which the following is a specification. y

This invent-ion relates to stapling machines, and more particularly to that type known as strip staple machines, wherein each staple, at the time it is driven, is severed from a strip of integrally connected staples which is fed forwardly at each operation of the machine to bring the staples successively into a position to be severed and driven.

The invention has for its object the provision of improved means for rigidly holding each staple, as it is severed from the strip, in such a position as to cause it to he cut off squarely and for positively guiding and carrying the severed staple through the throat of the machine, thereby effectually overcoming the ditficulty frequently encountered in the use of machines of this type due to the tendency of the cutting and driving mechanism, particularly when said mechanism has become slightly dull, to bend the staples instead of severing them cleanly, and to the occasional tendency on the part of the staples themselves, from. the foregoing or other causes, to turn in the throat and to become wedged therein or to be driven into the work at an inclination in- 7 line 2-2, Fig. 1, with the plunger removed.

Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 33,

Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the staple holding and carrying members.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary detail views, on an enlarged scale, of the front end of the staple strip carrying bar and the 10 denotes the machine base, which is provided at its forward end with an anvil 11 having the usual clenching recess; 12-. livoted to said base is the head of the machine, which comprises a casing 13 open at the bottom and having the lower edges of its side walls secured, as by pins 1 1, to a staplestrip carrying bar 15 upon-whichthe staple strip slides, said bar being pivoted at 16 between upstanding ears 1 at the rearend of the base 10. The upper portion of the bar 15 is spaced from the side walls of the casing 13 by plates 18 interposed between said bar and. walls in order to provide the necessary clearance for the free passage of the staple strip 19. At its forward end the casing 13 is formed with a vertically disposed, substantially cylindrical guide 20 for a vertically reciproeating plunger 21 having oppositely disposed longitudinal ribs 22 which are received in oppositely disposed vertical grooves 23 (see Figs. 2 and 3) in the guide 20. The plunger 21 is provided with a knob or hand piece 2P1 between which and the top of the guide 20 is interposed a spring 25 which normally holds the plunger in raised position. The flat forward end of the bar 15 is disposed in substantial alinement, or in substantially the same ver tical .planewith the flat rear face of the plunger 21., only sutiicient clearance being provided between said bar and plunger to permit the latter to pass the former and to cooperate therewith to shear olf the first staple of the strip when the plunger is depressed. The staple strip 19 is supported and slides on the top of the bar 15 with its foremost staple normally projecting beyond the end of the bar in a position to be severed from the strip by the plunger 21 in its downward movement and to be driven. through the throat 26 of the machine upon the anvil 11, where it is clenched by the recess 12.

27 denotes a cam plate pivoted at 28 within the casing 13 at the rear of the plunger 21. 29 denotes a feed pawl pivoted to the lower end of the cam plate 27 and held in engagement with the staple strip by a spring 30 interposed between said pawl and plate and seated in a socket in the lower edge of the latter. 31 denotes a. detent pawl pivoted at 32 to they casing and also held in engagement with the staple strip by a spring 33 carried by a stud 34. The cam plate 27 is oscillated on its pivot 28 at each reciprocation of the plunger 21 by a lug 35 on said plunger which engages upper and lower cam surfaces 36 and 37 formed on said plate, said surfaces being so designed that at-each oscillation of the cam plate the feed pawl 29 will be moved through a distance corresponding to the width of one staple on the strip. hen the plunger 21 is depressed, engagement of the lug 35 with the lower cam surface 37 causes the feed pawl to be moved backwardly upon the strip, the detent pawl 31 atthis time holding the strip against retrograde movement. lVhen said plunger is raised, engagement of said lugwilth the upper cam surface 36 causes said pawl to be moved forwardly to advance the strip. 38 denotes a plunger guided in a threaded thimble 39 which is seated in a threaded opening in the casing 13, said plunger being forced inwardly by a spring 40 interposed between the bottom of said thimble and a shoulder formed on said plunger. The end of the plunger 38 is slottedto receive the rear edge of the cam plate 27 and acts to keep said cam plate and the feed pawl 29 carried thereby normally in their forward position as well as to prevent lateralmovement of 'said cam plate and thereby retain said feed pawl in proper alinement with the staple strip. 1

41 (Fig. 1) denotes channel members or slides located in the grooves 23 and embracing the ribs 22 on the plunger 21. The slides 41, while oppositely disposed, are sub stantially identical in "form, and each oomprises (see Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7) a web 42 and front and rear flanges 43 and 44, the latter being provided with a notch 45 of substantially the same height as the several staples of the strip 19 and adapted, when the slides are in one position, as hereinafter explained, to permit the entry into the slides ofthe foremost staple when the latter is fed into driving position beyond the end of the bar 15 and beneath the plunger 21. The rear flange 44 of each of said slides is also provided with a lug 46 having upper and lower shoulders which are engaged by upper and lower shoulders 47 (Fig. 1) and 48' (Fig. '8), respectively, on the plunger 21 are sprung slightly outwardly and are provided with slightly rounded ends which are received in the recesses 51 in the walls of the grooves 23 when said slides are in their lowermost position, thereby retaining said slides in this position. I

The operation is as follows: lVhen the plunger 21 starts on its upward stroke, the slides 41 are in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, with the notches 45 in alinement with the staple strip 19, and as the plunger moves upwardly the feed pawl 29 advances said strip to cause the foremost staple thereon to enter said slides through said notches. Just prior to the completion of the upward movement of the plunger 21, the shoulders 48 thereon engage the lugs 46 on the slides,

lifting said slides from the position shown in Fig. 6 into the position shown in Fig. 5, in which position the depending legs of the foremost staple are held between the flanges 43 and 44 below the slots 42. As the plunger descends, the foremost staple is cut from the end of the strip and, being held in upright position by engagement of the flanges 43 and 44 with its depending legs, is prevented from turning or bending. As the downward movement of the plunger continues, the shoulder 47 thereon engages the lugs 46 on the slides, causing them to move downwardly with the staple and insure its straight passage through the throat 26. Upon the completion of the downward movement of the plunger, the slides will have been returned to the position shown in Fig. 6 ready to receive another staple when the strip is again advanced upon the succeeding upward movement of the plunger.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modification of the staple holding and carrying slides, the

slides 52, shown in said figure, being substantially L-shaped in cross section and comprising webs 53 and rear flanges 54 provided with lugs 55 and notches 56 corresponding substantially to the lugs 46 and notches 45 of the slides 41, the forward flanges 43 of the latter slides having been omitted inasmuch as the turning tendency of the staple is usually toward the rear. Also, the spring tongue 49 and spring fingers 50 have been omitted, the frictional engagement of the slides with the walls of the guides being depended upon to hold said slldes stationary when not positively moved. The operation of the slides 52 is substantially similar to that of the slides 41, as will be understood without further explanation. Having thus described my invention,.I claim:

1. In a strip staple machine, the combin a tion with means for feeding a staple strip a and means for severing and driving the indi and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member for engaging the foremost staple on said strip and holding the same against turning, and means operat-' ed by said severing and driving means for actuating said member, said actuating means having a lost motion connection with said member to permit the latter to remain stationary during the feeding operation.

3. In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member for engaging the foremost staple on said strip and holding the same against turning, said member being operated by said severing and driving means to and from staple holding position and having a lost motion connection therewith to permit said member to remain stationary during the feeding operation, and means for retaining said member in stationary position.

4. In a strip staple machine, the combina tion with a casing having recesses, means in said casing for feeding a staple strip, and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member for engaging the foremost staple on said strip and holding the same against turning, said member being operated by said severing and driving means and having a lost motion connection therewith to permit said member to remain sta tionary during the feeding operation, and said member being provided with spring arms adapted to engage said recesses to hold said member in its stationary position.

5. In a strip staple machine, the combmation with means for feeding a staple strip and a plunger for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member for engaging the foremost staple on said strip and holding the same against turning, cooperating shoulders on said plunger and member whereby said member is operated by said plunger to and from staple holding position, said shoulders being spaced to provide lost motion between said plunger and member to permit said member to remain stationary duringthe feeding operation, and means for retaining said member in stationary position.

6. In a strip staple machine, the combination with a casing, means in said casing for feeding a staple strip, and a plunger for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member for engaging the foremost staple on said strip and holding the same against turning, said member being operated by said plunger and having a lostmotion connection therewith to permit said member to remain stationary during the feeding operation, and said member having a spring tongue adapted to engage-said plunger and force said member into holding engagement with said casing.

7. In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member having side flanges to engage a legofthe foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning, having a notch to receive said staple, and said member being movable to carry said notch into and out of alinement with said strip.

8. In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member having side flanges to engage a leg of the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning, one of said flanges having a notch to receive said staple, and means for positively moving said member to carry said notch into and out of alinement with said strip.

9. In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and a plunger for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member having side flanges to engage a leg of the fore most staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning, one of said flanges having a notch to receive said staple, and said member being moved by said plunger to carry said notch into and out of alinement with said strip.

10. In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and a plunger for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member, having side flanges to engage a leg of the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning, one of said flanges having a notch to receive said staple, and cooperating shoulders on said plunger and member for moving said member to carry said notch into and out of alinement with said strip.

11. In a strip staple machine, the combione of said flanges strip, a plunger for severing and driving the individual staples, and'guides for said )lun er of channel members in'said 'uides' b 7 :3.

having side flanges to engage the legs of the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning, one of the flanges of each of said members having a notchto receive said staple, and said members being movable in said guides to carry said notches into and out of alinement with said strip.

12. In a stripstaple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member having side flanges to engage a leg of the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning, one of said flanges having a notch to receive said staple, said member being operated by said severing and driving means to carry said notch into and out of alinement with said. strip and having a lost motion connection with said severing and driving means to permit said member to remain stationary during the feeding operation.

13. In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding a staple strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member having side flanges to engage a leg of the foremost staple on said strip and hold said staple against turning, one of said flanges having a notch to receive said staple, said member being operated by said severing and driving means to carry said notch into and out of alinement with said strip and having a lost motion connection with said severing and driving means, and means for holding said member in stationary position with said notch in alinem'ent with said strip during. the feeding-operation.

14. In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feeding astaple' strip and means for severing and driving the individual staples, of a member having means for engaging the foremost staple on said trip and holding the same against turning during the severing operation, said member being movable with said staple as it is driven to guide said staple and carry said engaging means out of the path of movement of said strip when it is fed.

15 In a strip staple machine, the combination with means for feedinga staple strip and a plungerfor severing and driving the individual staples, of a channel member having a flange to engage a leg of the foremost staple on said strip and hold staple against turning, said flange having a notch to receive said staple, and means opei'atively connecting said channel member and plunger for causing said flange to engage said staple as it is severed, for moving said member with said staple as it is driven, and for causing said member to remain with said notch in alinement with said strip when the latter is advanced by said feeding means.

16. In a' staple binder, a casing, means housed in said casing for feeding a staple strip therethrough,a plunger operative to reciprocate in said casing, said plunger being operative to sever individual staples from said strip and drive the same, and guide means for said individual staple operatedby saidplunger, said guide means being operative to cooperate with all four sides of said individual staple.

17. In a staple binder, a casing, a plunger for severing staples from a staple strip operatively supported by said casing, guide means for said staple, .and said guide means being in the form of a sleeve that cooperates with the rear face, the two side faces,

and the front face of said plunger.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

JOHN MU'II-I. 

